Page 64 of Journey to You

Wariness crept across his face. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m scared to get involved in a relationship again.” She lowered her hand and wriggled back to put some distance between them. “I’m willing to date you, Ethan, but I can’t make any promises.”

“You’re wrong.”

Confused, she stared at him.

“I don’t care about you. I love you.”

Her sharp indrawn gasp sounded harsh in the silence and his hand shot out and latched onto her wrist as if he expected her to bolt.

“And I understand. You’re scared. Scared to take a chance on a relationship for fear of losing your identity again. But hell,Tam, this is me, not Richard. I’m nothing like him. Surely you know I’d never hurt you?”

Hot, scalding tears burned the back of her eyes, tears of hope, tears of fear.

If loving Richard and losing herself had been painful, loving Ethan and losing him would be a hundred times worse.

The ever-present fear undermined her newfound confidence, whispering insidious warnings that her inner strength could vanish in a second if she made the wrong decision again.

“I know you’re nothing like him. You being here is proof enough of the lengths you’ll go to for me, but I guess the fear has been a part of me so long it’s hard to ignore.”

He shook his head, his grip unrelenting. “Do you think this is easy for me? I’ve never loved anyone let alone admitted it. I don’t trust easily—”

“Which is why you date those airheads,” she finished for him, the realisation flooring her.

After what he’d told her today—being abandoned by his mother, shoved from family to family—everything slid into place. He was just as frightened as her: frightened to love, frightened to get emotionally involved, frightened to lose control.

Yet he’d confronted his fear, overcome it, for her.

“You’re as scared as me,” she said in a hushed tone, scrabbling on her knees to get closer to him. “That’s it, isn’t it? Why you closed off that day atAmbrosia. You thought I still cared about Richard, about having his baby, and you loved me then? You were hiding your fear, weren’t you?”

His slow, reluctant nod had her launching onto his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. “We’re a good match. We can read each other’s minds, yet we don’t want to delve into our own.”

He nuzzled her neck, sending a delightful shiver skating across her skin. “I take it this means you want to take a risk on a scaredy-cat like me?”

Laughing, she pulled back and planted a loud, resounding kiss on his mouth. “You bet.”

She kissed him again, slower this time, much slower. “I love you, too. The forever kind of love.”

He smiled, his arms locked firmly around her waist, every ounce of devotion, adoration, and love blazing from his guileless gaze. “Is that your prediction?”

“Absolutely.”

He jerked his head towards the Taj Mahal, the majestic monument standing tall and strong, a silent observer of yet another romantic drama playing out in its honour.

“They say this place is mystical, the ultimate dedication to love. So, what do you say we live up to its romantic promise?”

She held her breath, her heart racing with anticipation as her mind took a flying leap into the future.

Maybe her predictive powers were developing, because she had a sneaking suspicion Ethan might be about to—

“Tam, will you marry me? I promise to love you, cherish you, let you be your own person, and do whatever you want.”

His wide smile had her grinning right back at him with elation filling her soul and joy expanding her heart.

“How can a girl refuse a proposal like that?”

“You can’t.” He stole a kiss and she poured all her love for him into it.

“You once asked me if I believed in love at first sight.”

His eyes crinkled adorably, the roguish pirate smile back. “And do you?”

“Whether first sight, short-sight or long-sight, I believe in loving you.”

As their lips met, the moon rose, casting an enchanting glow over the Taj Mahal and its latest pair of lovers bound by destiny.

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